Tesco plans: Budgens manager says traders will be hit (From Bucks Free Press)

Tesco plans: Budgens manager says traders will be hit

11:10am Sunday 28th October 2012 in News By Simon Farr

Tesco plans: Budgens manager says traders will be hit

THE manager of a Flackwell Heath food shop has warned High Wycombe traders they will find it “difficult to compete” if Tesco opens a new store.

Mark Drydon, manager of Budgens, said his shop had lost a “substantial amount” of trade since a Sainsbury’s Local launched a few doors down the Straight Bit in August.

He believes Costcutter and the other smaller shops on the London Road will struggle if one of the supermarket big boys moves in on their patch.

He said: “We haven’t lost 50 percent of our trade, that’s just speculation, however it is a substantial amount since Sainsbury’s opened.

“It’s very difficult to compete against these stores. We’ve carried out price comparisons and they are more expensive than people think.

“But Sainsbury’s, for example, has a car-park right outside the front door and I think people are prepared to pay a little bit more for convenience.”

Vic Grewal, former franchise owner of the Budgens store, said he handed it back to corporate control because he knew he would not be able to keep up with the supermarket giants.

He said: “I was lucky as my lease was coming to an end so I could just hand it back and walk away.

“But I have sympathy for those who are tied in as I think they are in a situation they can’t survive.”

The Free Press offered Sainsbury’s the chance to respond but the firm said it does not comment on the performance of individual stores.

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